Mixing tank and support



Dec. 23, 1194-1. w, H S 2,266,803

MIXING TANK AND SUPPORT Filed Nov. 12, 1940 A Trek/vs Y:

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,266,803 MIXING TANK AND SUPPORT William H. Richards, Dayton, Ohio Application November 12, 1940, Serial No. 365,710 1 Claim. (01. 248-31 1) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial Number 272,442, filed May 8, 1939.

This invention relates to a lightweight collapsible tank for storing and dispensing chemical solutions such as are used in developing and fixing photographic prints.

The invention also relates to a new and novel apparatus functionally coordinated with the tank for quickly and completely mixing the chemical salts, or solute, into a homogeneous solution, with the fluid constituting the solvent.

Although the tank is adapted for permanent installation in a photographic laboratory or dark room, it is primarily intended for use in a photographic trailer unit where lightness in weight and compactness in both the assembled and disassembled conditions are of primary importance. It is an object of this invention to provide a lightweight collapsible mixing tank and a novel supporting means therefor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and novel mixing device, functionally coordinated with the tank, for quickly and completely mixing the chemical salts with the fluid in the tank to form a solution of uniform concentration.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the device;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section; and

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the upper part of the tank.

The tank is made up of a body member a of rubberized fabric, or other lightweight acid-resisting material and a pair of rigid end members lb and 2b of acid-resisting material. The end members are fastened to the body members by means of clamps c.

The tank is adapted to be attached to and supported by a wall or other support by means of upper and lower brackets Id and 2d,respectively. Each of the brackets is formed of two bracket arms, as shown in the drawing, and the lower bracket arms are rigidly connected by a cross member 3d.

Upper end member lb is suspendingly fastened to bracket arms Id by bolts a: and wing nuts w. Lower end member 21) rests upon bracket arms shafts f, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, cooperating with rods 6. Rods e connect the outer ends of bracket.

arms Id and 2d to space these members apart and to rigidify the structure.

Upper end member Ib is provided with an opening and a cover 10 therefor. Cover Ic is hingedly connected to the upper bracket member as shown in Fig. 3, and is held in closed position by bar m swingingly mounted upon one of the brackets I d. The bar is retained in coverlocking position by wing nuts 20, as shown in Fig. l.

As shown in Fig. 3, end member 2b is provided with a dispensing and filling opening having associated therewith a tube 9 provided with a valve h. Also associated with member 20 is a conical screen 7' placed over the outlet with which tube 9 is associated for preventing solute or undissolved chemical salts from leaving the tank. Chemical salts may be deposited in the tank through the opening in upper end member lb. The solute and solvent may be partially mixed by forcing the fluid constituting the solvent in through valve 11. and connecting tube 9.

A glass sight tube 11. is provided for readily observing the height of the liquid in the tank. Tube 11. is partially covered by protective member 0 and is connected to receive fluid from tank a. by flexible tube 10, the ends of which slip over the glass tube and the nipple 1 respectively. As shown in Fig. 2, nipple r is Operatively connected to the tank by being connected to lower end member 2b.

Bracket members Id and 2d are located at such a predetermined distance apart that the tank a is partially suspended from the upper bracket member and partially supported by the lower bracket member. As a result of this arrangement, a part of the weight of the tank is carried to the upper bracket member by tensioning of the tank, the remainder of the weight of the tank being carried by the lower bracket member. The tank may therefor be made lighter in weight than if entirely suspended or supported, and sagging and/or bulging of the tank is prevented.

Operatively associated with the tank to be reciprocated therein is an agitator member 1 for mixing the chemical salts or solute into a homogeneous solution with a suitable solvent fluid. The agitator is also used for stirring and remixing precipitated solute preparatory to withdrawal of a portion of the solution for use. In the pre- 2d and is held against sliding movement by stub ferred form of the invention, the lower portion y of the agitator is made of conical form which may be said to be in the shape of an inverted cup.

The periphery of the base of the member y conforms to the shape of the tank a and is spaced a predetermined distance from the inside periphery thereof for reasons to be hereinafter more fully explained. The screen i conforms to the member 3 but is slightly smaller in size.

The agitator member is provided with a plurality of small openings 2 which serve to prevent the accumulation of a concentrated or unhomog- Downward movement of the agitator member, on the other hand, tends to push a, column of fluid relatively upwardly around the outside edge of the base of the agitator member. After passing the base of the agitator member, the fluid will tend to turn inwardly resulting in a turbulent mixing effect. v

It is readily appreciated that the turbulence resulting from reciprocation of the agitator member will result in a violent agitation of the fluid in the tank and a resulting thorough mixing of enized solution in the inner upper portion of the fluid located centrally of the tank which is to be more fully explained.

Operation of the agitatormember, will now be described, particular emphasis being given to. the mixing action of the cup-shaped agitator member andthe'effect, obtained by having the base of the cup. portion of the agitator spaced a. predetermined distance from the inner periphery of the tank.

The agitatin effect obtained as. a result of upward movement ofthe agitator will first be described. Movement of the, agitator member upwardly tends to lift by a suction effect, a column of fluid below the agitator, upwardly centrally of the tank. This lifting effect is due, to the fact that the agitator member is in the form of. an inverted cup with the base of the cup conforming to and spaced a predetermined distance from the inner periphery of the tank. As the cup shaped member is raised, the fluid above itwill also be lifted flowing downwardly between the periphery of the base of member y and the inner periphery of the tank. After passing the base of member y the fluid will tend to turn inwardly and, upwardly to follow generally the path of the column of fluid being, raised by the agitator member. This will, of' course, result in a series of turbulent effects which will tend to thoroughly mix the solute with thesolvent. Upward movement of the member y will disturb and carry upwardly with it at least a part of the chemical salts which have settled out of solution or haveotherwise beendeposited entire screen member 7' or on, the bottom of the tank.

the chemical salts with the solvent fluid to produce a homogeneous solution. Continued reciprocal movement of the agitator member will remove and force into solution all the chemical salts that may have been deposited by precipitation or otherwise on the screen member 7' or on the bottom of the tank.

It is to be understood that the foregoing disclosure is by way of example only, it being in-' tended that the scope of the invention be limited only by: the following claim.

I claim:

Means for supporting a lightweight collapsible tank composed of rigid upper and lower end members and a flexible intermediate portion detachably connected thereto, comprising upper bracket means adapted to be attached to a support, means connecting said upper end member to said upper bracket to thereby transmit a portion of the weight of the tank thereto, lower bracket means adapted to be attached t 'said support, said lower end member resting upon said, lower bracket means, means for positioning said lower end member on said lower bracket means including tie rods connecting the unattached ends of said upper and lower bracket means, said tie rods serving also to maintain said bracket means in spaced relation, said upper end member being provided with an opening, a cover for said open ing pivotally connected to said upper bracket means, means. pivotally connected at one end to said; upper bracketv means and detachablyv connected, thereto at the other end'thereof and arranged in overlying engagement with said cover for maintaining the same in closed position.

WILLIAM H. RICHARDS. 

